The innovative QIAcube uses advanced technology to process QIAGEN spin columns, enabling seamless integration of automated, low-throughput sample prep into the laboratory workflow. No change of purification chemistry is required, assuring fast startup and immediate results. All steps in the purification procedure are fully automated — up to 12 samples can be processed per run.

The QIAcube is intended to be used only in combination with QIAGEN kits indicated for use with the QIAcube for the applications described in the kit handbooks.

Reproducible DNA yields.

Human blood was collected from 12 donors and treated with EDTA. Genomic DNA was purified from 200 µl blood using the QIAamp DNA Blood Mini Kit on the QIAcube. DNA was eluted in 200 µl. Yields of genomic DNA were determined by measuring the absorbance at 260 nm. The mean values of 3 independent runs are indicated.

High recovery of PCR products.

PCR products (2 µg in a volume of 100 µl) were purified using the QIAquick PCR Purification Kit with the manual procedure or automated on the QIAcube. Percentage recovery was determined spectrophotometrically. Recovery of PCR products using the QIAcube was comparable to the manual procedure.

DNA yields comparable to the manual procedure.

pCMVβ plasmid DNA was purified from 3 ml overnight cultures of E. coli (DH5α) grown in LB medium using the QIAprep Spin Miniprep Kit automated on the QIAcube or by using the manual procedure. DNA yields were determined spectrophotometrically. Automated DNA purification on the QIAcube gave comparable yields to the manual procedure.

Consistent yields of RNA.

RNA was purified from 1 x 106 Jurkat cells using the RNeasy Mini Kit on the QIAcube. RNA yields were consistent, demonstrating the efficiency and reproducibility of the automated procedure.

Automated QIAprep Mini Standard procedure.

Using the QIAcube. Fully automated purification of nucleic acids or proteins using QIAGEN spin kits, such as QIAprep Mini Kits, on the QIAcube eliminates the need for tedious manual steps. Sample preparation on the QIAcube follows the same steps as the manual procedure (i.e., lyse, bind, wash, and elute). No change in purification chemistry is required.

High PCR performance.

Human blood was collected from 3 donors and treated with one of 3 anticoagulants: EDTA, citrate, or heparin. Genomic DNA was purified from 200 µl blood using the QIAamp DNA Blood Mini Kit on the QIAcube. DNA was eluted in 200 µl. Yields of genomic DNA were determined by measuring the absorbance at 260 nm. A 1.2 kb fragment of the single-copy Hugl gene was amplified using 1 µl, 5 µl, or 10 µl purified DNA in a final reaction volume of 25 µl. Amplification reactions were performed using HotStarTaq DNA Polymerase. A 5 µl aliquot of each PCR was run on a 1.5% agarose gel. M: 100 bp ladder; +: positive control; –: negative control.

Highly reproducible protein purification.

6xHis-tagged green fluorescent protein (GFP) was purified in duplicate from 5 ml E. coli cultures under native conditions using the Ni-NTA Spin Kit with the manual procedure or automated on the QIAcube. Proteins were visualized by Coomassie staining after SDS-PAGE. A 10 µl aliquot of eluate was loaded. M: marker.

Comparison of manual and automated RNA purification.

RNA was purified using the RNeasy Mini Kit with the manual procedure or automated on the QIAcube. RNA was purified from 1 x 106 cells (RNeasy standard, RNeasy DNase digestion); 5 x 106 cells (RNeasy QIAshredder); 25 µg total RNA (RNeasy cleanup). Purified RNA was analyzed on the Agilent 2100 bioanalyzer. The high RNA Integrity Number (RIN) indicates the high quality of the RNA.

Reliable sequencing results.

pUC19 Plasmid DNA was purified from a 1.5 ml overnight culture of E. coli grown in LB medium using the QIAprep Spin Miniprep Kit on the QIAcube and sequenced using the BigDye Terminator v3.1 Cycle Sequencing Kit. Sequencing reactions were purified using the DyeEx 96 Kit and analyzed on an ABI PRISM 3700 DNA Analyzer.

High-quality genomic DNA

Using the QIAamp DNA Blood Kit, the QIAcube enables purification of reproducible yields of highly pure genomic DNA (see figure “Reproducible DNA yields”). DNA purified using the QIAcube performs well in sensitive PCR even when large amounts of eluate are used, demonstrating the high purity of the DNA (see figure “High PCR performance”).

Efficient purification of viral nucleic acids

The QIAcube together with the QIAamp MinElute Virus Spin Kit enables efficient purification of viral nucleic acids. To evaluate the risk of sample-to-sample carryover during and between runs, the QIAamp MinElute Virus Spin procedure was subjected to rigorous testing using an alternating checkerboard setup of negative and highly positive plasma samples (1 x 108 IU/ml of a typical DNA virus). All of the highly positive samples were detected. All negative samples, in the checkerboard runs and the all-negative runs were unresponsive (see table “No sample carryover detected”).

No sample carryover detected

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

Run 1

19.5

X

19.4

X

18.8

X

X

19.0

X

19.1

X

19.8

Run 2

X

19.1

X

18.9

X

18.8

18.7

X

19.2

X

18.9

X

Run 3

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Negative and highly positive (1 x 108 IU/ml typical DNA virus) plasma samples arranged in an alternating sequence on the QIAcube were purified using the QIAamp MinElute Virus Spin Kit and analyzed by real-time RT-PCR. Mean CT value for positive samples was 19. Samples with CT > 45 were regarded as negative. Under these conditions sample carryover was not detected.

Efficient cleanup of DNA fragments

The QIAcube makes DNA cleanup easier than ever. Proven QIAquick technology together with optimized protocols enables direct purification of double- or single-stranded DNA fragments, from 100 bp to 10 kb. Primers, nucleotides, enzymes, and other impurities are efficiently removed and recovery of DNA is comparable to the manual procedure (see figure “High recovery of PCR products”).

Principle

The QIAcube enables continued use of well-established QIAGEN spin-column kits and eliminates the need for tedious manual steps. The innovative QIAcube controls integrated components including a centrifuge, heated shaker, pipetting system, and robotic gripper. This enables the QIAcube to fully automate more than 40 QIAGEN spin-column kits.

The QIAcube is preinstalled with a variety of protocols for purification of RNA, genomic DNA, plasmid DNA, viral nucleic acids, and proteins, plus DNA and RNA cleanup. All standard protocols in the expanding range can also be downloaded free of charge. In addition, customized protocols tailored to meet your specific application demands can also be requested.

Procedure

The QIAcube enables purification of highly pure nucleic acids or proteins using a simple lyse, bind, wash, elute procedure (see flowchart). Over 40 QIAGEN spin-column kits can be automated on the QIAcube.

Unparalleled ease of use

The QIAcube takes ease of use to a new level. No external PC is required, saving valuable laboratory space. An integrated touch screen simplifies protocol selection, and clear on-screen messages guide the user through worktable setup. For increased ease of use and high process safety, labware and accessories fit onto the worktable only in the correct orientation. In addition, a fully automated load check helps to ensure that samples, reagents, and labware are correctly loaded.

New dedicated kits for DNA and RNA preps

Dedicated QIAcube Kits further simplify automated spin preps on the QIAcube and increase convenience. Kits are currently available for purification of RNA, genomic DNA, and viral RNA. Rotor-adapters supplied with the kits are preloaded with spin columns and elution tubes, delivering greater convenience and time savings. Furthermore, ease of use is increased and user errors minimized. Waste is reduced as the content of the dedicated kits is tailored to purification on the QIAcube and tubes required for the manual procedure are not included.

Applications

The QIAcube is highly suitable for academic research laboratories as well as pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and biomedical research laboratories performing applications, such as:

Download the documentation that describes how to update the QIAcube operating software and read through the procedure carefully. These instructions are the same for every update and are independent of the software version mentioned in the instruction document.